The 6 Nations 2019 Thread

[bendeus]

Hungover and hoarse. Happily digesting media output on the match while my mate is cooking a FEB. And still smiling inanely.

 

[bendeus]

I disagree - I thought he should have started Biggar and brought on Anscombe second half. In the first half Wales chose to kick for the corner when England gave away penalties (as they tend to do) and got very little out of it, Biggar could have kicked those. I thought exactly the same against France - we were the better team and we've always been a 2nd half side, why not create a strong foundation in the 1st half? Garland definitely didn't get the best out of these players against France and to me he doesn't seem to instill an intelligent approach to decision making in players. The second half was the time to go for the corner, put England in their own 22 and wear them out.

Anyway, alls well that ends well, let's hope we don't fluff our lines and we can secure the slam!

I kind of agree with the Anscombe/Biggar bit here. Gatland's tactics against England would have better suited Biggar's style of play given that we weren't going to go expansive and that we were going to kick and carry our way to the win.

That said, Biggar is an absolute test animal and must *hate* being on the bench. That makes for a very hungry and fired up player when he does come on. He was imperious in that final quarter.

 

[Grandma Death]

Wales’s stunning comeback is one of Warren Gatland’s finest hours

Wales’s stunning comeback is one of Warren Gatland’s finest hours | Robert Kitson. Good write up this

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[SpackleFrog]

I kind of agree with the Anscombe/Biggar bit here. Gatland's tactics against England would have better suited Biggar's style of play given that we weren't going to go expansive and that we were going to kick and carry our way to the win.

That said, Biggar is an absolute test animal and must *hate* being on the bench. That makes for a very hungry and fired up player when he does come on. He was imperious in that final quarter.

I actually thought they were a lot more expansive in the last 20 minutes when England were tired and the superior Welsh fitness and ability to move the ball through the hands showed. Thing is attempting to play expansive rugby straight away when England were full of nerves but fired up and full of energy as well didn't work.

One area where Gatland has made a difference is the defensive line and fitness. But for me the tactical approach to games always seems off.

 

[ricbake]

That's a turn up! Italian try!

 

[ricbake]

That's a turn up! Italian try!

and AGAIN!

 

[fucthest8]

And THAT's how you deal with a lazy runner

 

[Micro]

Ireland just not clicking. Even if they turn it around in the 2nd half, it’s still got to be a wales Grand Slam.

 

[Ax^]

the worst Ireland have played in years

since about 2013

 

[ricbake]

Irish recovery - workman like rather than any flair...

 

[Ax^]

for fuck sake

 

[Mr Retro]

Really flat Irish performance. Sexton is injured. Murray playing like a club player. Defence has no snap to it. All round poor stuff.

 

[Micro]

Lineouts were awful as well. Except for that lovely steal from O’Mahony just now.

 

[flypanam]

One bright spot is Schmidt will know who won’t be going to Japan, Cronin for sure is out.

Did Sexton mouth “fucking poor”?

What has happened to our kicking game?

 

[flypanam]

Another question is why are there so many injuries in camp esp hamstring?

 

[SpackleFrog]

Definitely a lot of talk of Irish squad depth that hasn't materialised.

 

[Ax^]

Why is Sexton not being rested if he is too injured to bring his kicking game

 

[flypanam]

Shane Horgan is saying it's like 2007 all over again. Except in 2007 6N we came second and had our melt down at the WC. Hopefully this is the over way round.

 

[Grandma Death]

. Now I find Squidges videos as informative as bendeus knowledge on the sport. This video is no exception. I've always said gatland is a master game player. Nobody expected warenball second half but that's what he did. He also nullified England's clear strategy of a kicking game with Williams. Whatever you may think about gatland...he planned a game and that plan outplayed England. I also think England didn't lose the second half cause they imploded. They lost it cause Wales stuck to the original game plan. Now on a personal level. Why do I think Wales will win the slam. I'm witnessing something I havent seen in a long time in this Welsh team. A team with belief that NEVER gives up. And I've not seen that for a while. Its like they keep playing full on for 80 minutes. Where they may have previously gave up they never seem to give up now. The top 2 inches as jiffy would say are the most important and this team have that.

I'm. Gonna be bold now. And predict Wales will at the least... Get into the semi finals and possibly win the world Cup. I could be wrong. I don't think I am. This team have something special in them. Belief and passion. Both will conquer the world!

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[mx wcfc]

Fair point, well made. You beat England fair and square (2-1 on tries is how I score these things), but you only beat France because they made two prize cock-ups. All the northern hemisphere sides have a long way to go to win the WC. But, put a tenner on it and I'll wish you luck.

The thing I see as big in Japan later this year is how injuries pan out - given the way players are falling by the wayside in the 6N, it's going to be about who has the best squad/second string. That is crap, but it is going to be key.

(Oh, and C'mon Ireland!!!)

 

[flypanam]

Welsh posters happy David's day.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

[
I'm. Gonna be bold now. And predict Wales will at the least... Get into the semi finals and possibly win the world Cup.

Steady on.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

We beat England at home, that doesn't mean all that in the grand scheme of things. We still have Scotland and Ireland to worry about before thinking about the WC. Both teams could quite easily beat us.

 

[bendeus]

We beat England at home, that doesn't mean all that in the grand scheme of things. We still have Scotland and Ireland to worry about before thinking about the WC. Both teams could quite easily beat us.

Nope. Slam's ours. Like 2005 all over again. Slow start, down at half time to a rampant France only to come back with an unlikely win. Tight win against the Saes in the final minutes. Going to smash the Jocks and then our pride and pashun will see us over the line against the men in green in front of a baying millennium stadium.

Yes, I am on drugs.

 

[Grandma Death]

Nope. Slam's ours. Like 2005 all over again. Slow start, down at half time to a rampant France only to come back with an unlikely win. Tight win against the Saes in the final minutes. Going to smash the Jocks and then our pride and pashun will see us over the line against the men in green in front of a baying millennium stadium.

Yes, I am on drugs.

This is the new shiny improved bendeus. I like the new shiny improved bendeus. There's nothing like optimism bendeus. Even when we won't win. I'd rather be high on optimism than down on pessimism. And my optimism about the Welsh team is like a broken clock... [emoji6]

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[Grandma Death]

We beat England at home, that doesn't mean all that in the grand scheme of things. We still have Scotland and Ireland to worry about before thinking about the WC. Both teams could quite easily beat us.

When every man and his dog had us losing and England were playing by and far the best kicking game I've ever witnessed in the modern game, plus a record win, plus a home crowd, plus leapfrogging England in the rankings....i think there's more than the touch of symbolism about this. This Wales team are fucking special. Gatland is right. They've forgotten how to lose.

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[mx wcfc]

When every man and his dog had us losing and England were playing by and far the best kicking game I've ever witnessed in the modern game, plus a record win, plus a home crowd, plus leapfrogging England in the rankings....i think there's more than the touch of symbolism about this. This Wales team are fucking special. Gatland is right. They've forgotten how to lose.

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Far be it for me to dampen your enthusiasm on this special day, but you only beat France due to two catastrophic, schoolboy errors by them. A win is a win, but it was pure luck, not being a special side, that got you past France.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

and England were playing by and far the best kicking game I've ever witnessed in the modern game

Are you for real? France and Ireland made England's kicking game look good by playing players out of position at fullback. Says a lot that England's whole game plan came unstuck when they faced a team with a fullback playing fullback.

Wales are punching and could easily find themselves in the last four come the world cup but your enthusiasm is coming across as deluded, not to mention disrespectful to our opponents. You'd be the first to complain of English arrogance but here you are proclaiming Wales world cup winners before we've even finished the 6 Nations.

Simmer down.

 

[Grandma Death]

Are you for real? France and Ireland made England's kicking game look good by playing players out of position at fullback. Says a lot that England's whole game plan came unstuck when they faced a team with a fullback playing fullback.

Wales are punching and could easily find themselves in the last four come the world cup but your enthusiasm is coming across as deluded, not to mention disrespectful to our opponents. You'd be the first to complain of English arrogance but here you are proclaiming Wales world cup winners before we've even finished the 6 Nations.

Simmer down.

No I said....'Get into the semi finals and possibly win the world Cup. I didnt say they WOULD win. Try reading what Ive said before posting.

I fail to see how what Im suggesting is deluded and disrespectful against our opponents? Its not arrogance. I see something in this welsh team a mentality Ive not seen under Gatland. I could be wrong. But arrogance it isnt. Far from it.

And whether a team is good or bad-you can still play a good kicking game to defeat them...you realise that right?

 

[Grandma Death]

Far be it for me to dampen your enthusiasm on this special day, but you only beat France due to two catastrophic, schoolboy errors by them. A win is a win, but it was pure luck, not being a special side, that got you past France.

Yadda yadda. You can only beat whats in front of you. And if a team capitalises on errors and goes on to win thats a team beating whats in front of them.